Each week, Squawka’s VAR table recalculates the standings by removing the impact of VAR ‘errors’.
Those errors are as voted for by Squawka followers on our polls on X, based on each gameweek’s most controversial VAR calls.
By focusing only on the most recent round of fixtures, this alternative view highlights the immediate impact of officiating errors. And provides a fair reflection of team performance.
The 2026/27 Premier League season is still in its infancy, but there have been a few early calls to discuss. Let’s take a look at how the VAR errors from GW2 have affected the hypothetical table.
2026/27 Premier League table without VAR ‘errors’
Note: Our table has been compiled on the basis that penalties that should have been awarded would subsequently have been scored. Since 2016-17, 80.28% of Premier League penalties taken have been scored.
How many VAR ‘errors’ have gone against your team?
Man Utd and Leeds were the first two teams to benefit from voted VAR ‘errors’ in the Premier League this season. Brentford and Ipswich were on the wrong end of those ‘errors’.
| CLUB | ERRORS FOR | ERRORS AGAINST | DIFFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brentford | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Ipswich | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Arsenal | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aston Villa | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bournemouth | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brighton | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chelsea | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Coventry | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Palace | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Everton | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fulham | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hull | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Liverpool | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Man City | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Newcastle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nottingham Forest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sunderland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tottenham | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leeds | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| Man Utd | 1 | 0 | +1 |
GW2 VAR controversies
After a quiet first gameweek, the Premier League’s VAR discussions got up and running with three calls including one contentious handball decision.
Were Brentford denied a penalty?
- Match result: Leeds 1-1 Brentford
- Original decision: No penalty
- VAR decision: No penalty
- Squawka poll says: Penalty (53.2%)
Brentford wanted a penalty early in the second half against Leeds when Kevin Schade went down inside the box after a tackle from Jayden Bogle. The referee did not look interested in the protests, allowing play to go on. It was checked by VAR, with the original decision being upheld. The contact by Bogle was deemed not enough to cause Schade to go down.
Was Nottingham Forest’s penalty fair?
- Match result: Liverpool 2-2 Nottingham Forest
- Original decision: Penalty
- VAR decision: Penalty
- Squawka poll says: Penalty (51.5%)
There was a lot of controversy surrounding Nottingham Forest’s penalty. The first came in the buildup, as Liverpool had planned to make a triple change in their quest to take the lead. But the fourth official was taking too long to sort out the substitution boards, so the trio were left waiting on the sidelines. While that was happening, Nottingham Forest broke and took a quick throw-in. The ball fell to Neco Williams who was brought down in the box by Alisson, and the referee awarded a penalty feeling the Forest man had been cleared out. The initial decision was confirmed after VAR review.
Should Man Utd’s second goal have counted?
- Match result: Man Utd 5-2 Ipswich
- Original decision: Goal
- VAR decision: Goal
- Squawka poll says: No goal (72.8%)
The handball laws came under the spotlight in Man Utd’s win over Ipswich. The Red Devils took a 2-1 lead after Harry Maguire’s shot was deflected into the net by Jacob Greaves. Before taking his shot, though, Maguire had controlled the ball with his hands. The ball hit his hands while they were close to his body and tucked in to protect himself from a potential collision, so an accidental handball was feasible. However, those rules are usually ignored when it comes by a goalscorer, which would have counted against Maguire. But, as Maguire’s shot was going off target, and dubbed an own goal by Greaves, it wasn’t deemed necessary to punish the handball.
GW1 VAR controversies
The first gameweek of the 2026/27 Premier League season was a quiet one with no contentious VAR decisions to discuss.